Good things come to those who wait, like the Toronto designer investment buys featured in our fall womenswear preview.
1. Lately, designers’ sense of colour has been blocked into graphic stripes, but we’re craving something a bit less regimented for fall. Juma’s (jumastudio.com) signature autumn fabric is a multicolour-on-black knit cut into tops and dresses, including this maxi ($250) available September 1 at Pho Pa (702 Queen West, 416-943-1887, phopa.ca).
2. Abel Munoz, he of the towering booties and sky-high platform sandals, is lowering our expectations for the height of his footwear with the fall addition of some sharp leather oxfords ($580). Pick up a pair at George C (21 Hazelton, 416-962-1991, georgec.ca) starting the third week of August.
3. Christie Smythe and Andrea Lenczner of Smythe have designed the hybrid topper of the season, an A-line, double-breasted pea jacket ($795) that mixes in trench coat storm flaps, dropped epaulets and a zipper up the back to add extra swing to its shape. Find it at Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor West, 416-922-2333, holtrenfrew.com) by the end of September.
4. Carpetbags are making a comeback, and our favourite textured tote is Virginia Johnson’s chain-stitched carryall ($350). Next week it arrives in bear and snowshoe prints or this henna-inspired motif at her west-end boutique (132 Ossington, 416-516-3366, virginiajohnson.com).
5. Danier’s new collection includes pieces created with UK-based knitwear phenom Mark Fast and Toronto jersey junkies Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill of Greta Constantine. Their biggest collaboration surprise, though, is stylist George Antonopoulos’s Object line, which features these coveted grey suede trousers ($349) in stores (Eaton Centre, 218 Yonge, 416-598-1159, and others, danier.com) September 8.
